About
Halfpenny Bridge takes its name from the toll once charged to cross on foot — a halfpenny per person — finally abolished in 1839. The bridge itself, a single-arch span built in 1792, is one of the prettiest stone bridges over the Thames anywhere along its length.
Just upstream, St John's Lock is the highest lock on the Thames; just downstream, Lechlade's small marina rents the only powered cabin cruisers available west of Oxford. The Riverside pub at the foot of the bridge has the best terrace seats on the river.
The Cotswold Guide Top Tips
- Walk upstream half a mile from the bridge to St John's Lock and the Old Father Thames sculpture — the highest point on the river you can reach by boat.
In Lechlade
A small Georgian market town at the highest navigable point of the River Thames — boats, a stone bridge and Shelley's churchyard.
Read the Lechlade guide →Find accommodation near Halfpenny Bridge
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering cottages in and around Lechlade — within easy reach of Halfpenny Bridge. Browse availability for your dates on Booking.com.
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